IT’S beginning to feel a lot like Christmas, as the Zonta Club of Bendigo prepares to host its annual market. Club president Ann Horrocks said there would be 40 stalls at this year’s Christmas market, on Saturday November 10. She said stall items would include Christmas decorations, plants, jewellery, soaps, embroidery, cards, children’s toys and dolls. The event is the major fundraiser for the birthing kits the club assembles each year to help mothers and their babies in developing countries. “The small, lightweight kit provides a clean birth environment to reduce infection related deaths,” Ms Horrocks said. Related: Volunteers unite in Bendigo to help mothers and newborns “It is estimated that for every 11 birthing kits distributed, a mother or baby’s life is saved. Zonta Bendigo’s annual production of 2000 kits could save over 180 lives.” The market is intended to raise a substantial portion of the $6000 needed to fund next year’s birthing kits. Ms Horrocks said kits had previously been sent to the Democratic Republic of Congo: ‘A country where there are over 114,000 maternal and neonatal deaths annually’. “An estimated 385,000 women die worldwide each year from preventable birth related infection,” Ms Horrocks said. Saturday’s Christmas Market runs from 10.30am – 3pm at the Bendigo Club on Park Street, Strathdale. Ms Horrocks said the market was indoors, ‘so will not be affected by any adverse weather conditions’. Have you signed up to the Bendigo Advertiser's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in central Victoria.